Category Archives: Business & Politics

Business & Politics

Canada aims for new US trade deal by Aug. 1 as Trump threatens 35% tariffs

By Hunter Crowther
CTV NewsB
July 11, 2025
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, United States

Donald Trump announced Thursday the US will charge a 35% tariff on Canadian imports starting Aug. 1. In an open letter to Prime Minister Carney, he wrote “if you decide to raise your Tariffs, we will be added onto the 35% that we charge.” …“These Tariffs may be modified, upward or downward, depending on our relationship with your Country.” Carney posted on social media that Canada would work towards a revised deadline of Aug. 1 in reaching a new trade deal with the US. “Canada has made vital progress to stop the scourge of fentanyl in North America,” Carney wrote. …Trump pointed to what he called “unsustainable” trade deficits, as well as the Canadian dairy sector. On Wednesday, Trump announced a 50% tariff on copper imports. The US was Canada’s largest copper importer in 2023, accounting for 52% of the total export value. That same year, Canada’s exports of copper and copper-based products were valued at $9.3 billion.

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US Lumber Coalition Calls for Elimination of Expedited CVD Reviews

By Zoltan van Heyningen
TargetedNews Service
July 9, 2025
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, United States

WASHINGTON, July 9 — The U.S. Lumber Coalition (USLC) has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Commerce urging the elimination of expedited countervailing duty (CVD). …Zoltan van Heyningen, Executive Director of USLC, emphasized the need to “put American workers, manufacturers, and producers first.” The letter cites the detrimental impact expedited CVD reviews have had on the domestic lumber industry, asserting that these reviews serve as a platform for unfairly subsidized imports. [to access the full story, a TargetedNews Service subscription is required]

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US Homebuilders comment on new tariff deadline, pending Section 232 lumber tariffs

The National Association of Home Builders
July 10, 2025
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, United States

President Trump has announced he will extend the pause on reciprocal tariffs for another three weeks until Aug. 1 and impose a 50% tariff on copper. …The US imports nearly half of its copper. …The timeline for enactment of the copper tariffs is still unclear, but the market has already begun to respond with record-high prices. …Separately, the administration previously launched a Section 232 investigation focusing on whether lumber imports constitute a threat to national security. NAHB strongly disputes this notion and we filed comments underscoring that housing is a critical component of national security. …“Our housing crisis is a bigger threat to national security than imported lumber or timber,” NAHB’s letter to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick stated. “Lumber from Canada simply does not present the same national security threat as oil from the Middle East or steel, aluminum, rare earth minerals, or advanced computing chips from China.”

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US Self-Reliance in Softwood Lumber Hamstrung by Canadian Unfair Trade

By the US Lumber Coalition
PR Newswire
July 2, 2025
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, United States

With its broad system of government subsidies and associated unfair trade practices, Canada is continuously displacing US production and US jobs through its sale of subsidized, below market value softwood lumber. Canada’s unfair trade practices cause US sawmills to lose sales and revenue, leading to mill curtailments and job cuts in communities across America. “Canada’s built-for-export excess softwood lumber production capacity is huge and unsustainable, at around 8 billion board feet,” stated Andrew Miller, Chairman. “And Canada’s focus on maintaining its US market share at any cost is hugely detrimental the profitability and growth of the US softwood lumber industry.” “Demand for housing remains weak and so does demand for lumber. Yet Canada continues its relentless shipments of dumped and subsidized lumber,” added Miller. … Zoltan van Heyningen said …”We reject the efforts of the National Association of Homebuilders to fight against President Trump’s goal of U.S. softwood lumber self-reliance.”

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Free important document replacements offered to wildfire victims

By Steve Berard
Energetic City
July 2, 2025
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada

OTTAWA — The federal government is taking steps to help people who have lost important documents as a result of wildfires this year. Lena Diab, the federal minister of immigration, refugees and citizenship, announced special measures to help people displaced by wildfires and evacuations earlier this year. According to Diab’s announcement, Canadian citizens and permanent residents whose documents like passports, citizenship certificates and permanent resident cards were lost or damaged because of wildfires this year can apply for free replacements. …Temporary residents… who were impacted by wildfires can also apply to restore or extend their status in Canada or renew their permits free of charge. The 90-day requirement for temporary residents to apply for the restoration of their status is also being waived for people impacted by wildfires, and foreign emergency workers coming to help fight wildfires in Canada are having their application and biometric fees waived.

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2024 Canadian Wood Council Annual Report

Canadian Wood Council
June 30, 2025
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada

We are pleased to share the Canadian Wood Council’s 2024 Annual Report, offering a clear view of the progress, resilience, and impact achieved over the past year. In his message, Chairman Kevin Pankratz reflects on the Council’s strategic leadership during a year marked by economic pressures and shifting market conditions. Emphasis is placed on the value of collaboration, strong governance, and industry alignment as essential to maintaining momentum and ensuring long-term competitiveness. The report reinforces the importance of maintaining a united voice across our membership and fostering clarity in our purpose as a national federation. From the President & CEO’s perspective, Rick Jeffery outlines how the organization navigated 2024 with focus and adaptability—delivering trusted technical guidance, growing influence in codes and standards, and expanding national education and outreach efforts. With renewed government investment and increased awareness of low-carbon construction, the Council is well-positioned to lead the next chapter of growth for Canada’s wood sector.

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Vancouver Fraser Port Authority opens bids for Roberts Bank Terminal 2 build

By Jeremy Hainsworth
Business in Vancouver
July 10, 2025
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, Canada West

The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority is now searching for a construction company to plan and build the Roberts Bank Terminal 2 container port project wharf and landside facilities. The port said the state-of-the-art marine container terminal will unlock over $100 billion in new trade capacity and contributing $3 billion in GDP annually. …Construction is planned to begin in 2028, and the terminal is expected to be in operation by the mid-2030s. …The port authority has signed mutual benefits agreements with 27 First Nations. …Following the federal and provincial governments’ 2023 approval of the project, the port authority submitted a Species at Risk Act-compliant Fisheries Act authorization application in 2024. A decision on that, the final major permit, is expected no later than October 2026, the port authority said. …Pang said the terminal will be a catalyst for economic transformation nationally. He said it aims to support Prairie grain exports and BC’s forestry sector.

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Kim Haakstad, BC Council of Forest Industries CEO, named to BIV BC 500 list

By Council of Forest Industries (via LinkedIn)
Business in Vancouver
June 30, 2025
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada West

Congratulations to COFI’s President & CEO, Kim Haakstad, on being named to BIV’s BC 500 list recognizing influential leaders shaping British Columbia’s future! Haakstad was selected for her leadership in advocating for a competitive, sustainable, and inclusive forest sector that supports jobs, communities, and climate solutions across B.C. With over 20 years of experience at the intersection of business and government, Haakstad’s work reflects COFI’s commitment to the long-term success of forestry in our province. She has over 20 years of experience at the intersection of business and government. She leads advocacy for BC’s forest sector, emphasizing sustainable forestry, Indigenous reconciliation and economic growth. Haakstad also serves on non-profit and innovation boards, reflecting her commitment to community and forward-thinking leadership. 

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B.C. builders welcome New Democrat Party changes to development cost charges as housing starts falter

By Alec Lazenby
The Vancouver Sun
July 3, 2025
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, Canada West

The NDP government is making changes to development cost charges that builders say could help reduce the burden they face as material and labour costs continue to increase and the number of projects under construction drop. Starting in 2026, builders will only have to pay 25 per cent of their fees to municipalities up front and will be able to defer the remaining 75 per cent for four years or until people move into the building. The fees help cover the cost of infrastructure such as community centres, roads, sewers and parks. The changes will also allow developers to use bonds instead of irrevocable letters of credit as financial guarantees, allowing them to preserve access to capital throughout the project. Wendy McNeil, CEO of the Homebuilders Association Vancouver, said the changes will allow builders certainty when it comes to the cost of the project and the timeframe for making payments to municipalities.

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Lumber for Nations program supports Indigenous building projects — partnership between Meadow Lake Tribal Council and Tolko

Tolko Industries Ltd.
July 2, 2025
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, Canada West

SASKATCHEWAN — The Meadow Lake Tribal Council (MLTC) and Tolko Industries Ltd. (Tolko) are pleased to announce the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), establishing a Lumber for Nations Program. The Lumber for Nations Program aims to support building projects in the Indigenous communities represented by MLTC. It provides both purchasing opportunities and product donations to help community-supported projects come to life. The MOU was signed for an initial period of five years and may be renewed by mutual agreement between the Parties. “MLTC is pleased to collaborate with Tolko in providing additional direct benefits of finished wood products, from our lumber and OSB mills, for use by MLTC’s First Nation communities,” says Tribal Chief Jeremy Norman. “I applaud the leadership of Tolko in taking this step with the Meadow Lake Tribal Council.”

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Powell River mill property sales agreement reached

Powell River Peak
June 30, 2025
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada West

Domtar (formerly Paper Excellence) has signed a purchase agreement with Cranberry Business Park Ltd. for the sale of the remaining half of its lands at the former Tis’kwat paper mill site in Powell River. “We are looking forward to contributing to the economic future of Powell River and the region,” stated Craig Austin and Thomas Ligocki, from Cranberry Business Park Ltd., in a media release. “With waterfront access and abundant energy sources, this site has so much potential. We are proud to be part of the revitalization of the city’s Historic Townsite, alongside our neighbour at Tis’kwat, the Tla’amin Nation.” “It was a priority for Domtar to find a buyer who would ensure that the lands continue to generate jobs and economic benefit for the broader community well into the future,” stated Carlo Dal Monte, vice-president, Domtar Legacy Assets.

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Local governments discuss the future in the forestry sector on Vancouver Island

By Justin Baumgardner
My Cowichan Valley Now
June 30, 2025
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, Canada West

NORTH COWICHAN, BC — Dignitaries from the region gathered to discuss the key challenges around forestry and how the recent curtailments at the Chemainus Sawmill have impacted the region. North Cowichan mayor Rob Douglas says discussions were centered specifically on how to turn the challenges being faced in the forestry sector into opportunities in the future. “We discussed opportunities in the forestry sector, including mill curtailments, fibre access, updates to the Private Managed Forest land regulations, watershed health, and the success of the community fields,” he says. Western Forest Products started curtailments on Jun. 18 due to what Douglas says was an inability to find a viable supply of fibre, which affected 150 workers at the mill, and he says the community is uncertain about the future. “In North Cowichan, we remain deeply concerned about the future of the Crofton pulp mill and Western Forest Products facility,” he says.

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First Nations forestry, diversification having big impact on Mackenzie

By Colin Slark
The Prince George Citizen
June 25, 2025
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada West

MACKENZIE — The District of Mackenzie has seen challenges in recent years with a downturn in British Columbia’s forestry industry, but Mayor Joan Atkinson said that diversifying into other industries has made a big impact on her community. … “We suffered a huge loss in taxation from 2024 to 2025 as a result of the closure of two large industrial facilities, but this community has always been resilient,” said Atkinson. …Canfor said it was indefinitely curtailing activity at its Mackenzie sawmill in July 2019.  Paper Excellence permanently shuttered its Mackenzie pulp mill in April 2021. Atkinson noted two factors that have helped the local forestry industry. The first was Forests Minister Ravi Parmar announcing a change in an appraisal system that makes it more economically viable for companies to operate in Northern BC. The second is ownership of nearby timber supply areas by First Nations.

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Newfoundland’s Richard Dewey takes on Corner Brook pulp mill over Deer Lake contamination

By Diane Crocker
The Telegram
July 9, 2025
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, Canada East

ST. JOHNS, Newfoundland — St. John’s lawyer Bob Buckingham is not sure how an investigation into the illegal burial of hazardous and contaminated materials in Deer Lake will take place, but he’s giving all the credit for it happening to one man. Buckingham represents Richard Dewey, a resident of Deer Lake who, for more than a decade, has worked to bring attention to three separate environmental issues in the town: the burial of the hazardous and contaminated materials, pollution of the town’s drinking water and property damage caused by seepage from the Humber Canal. …Dewey made a complaint to the provincial government claiming that creosote-contaminated soil was trucked from beneath the penstocks on the Humber Canal and buried near the town’s water supply, and that creosote-soaked penstocks were dumped at the closed town landfill.

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Fire flattens sawmill in New Ross, Nova Scotia

CBC News
July 3, 2025
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada East

A lumber mill in New Ross has been destroyed by fire. Four departments battled the blaze Thursday at L.E. Elliott Lumber on New Russell Road. …Peter Elliott, the owner of mill, says the business has been in his family for three generations. The original mill was built in 1933. …While the sawmill was a total loss, fire crews managed to save a planer mill, which was only about 25 metres away, Elliott said. “The planer mill was kind of in the line of the sparks and all the smoke and stuff. …” Elliott said he doesn’t know for sure how the fire started, but he guesses it might have been electrical. Elliott, who is 65, said it’s too early to decide what will come next for him or the business. He estimates it would cost about $1 million to rebuild the mill, and he did not have insurance, as the cost would have been prohibitive. 

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Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association demands action on softwood lumber tariffs

By Tim Davidson
CKDR 92.7 FM Dryden
June 30, 2025
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, Canada East

The Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association is worried about the impact of new tariffs on the softwood lumber industry by the US. Starting next month, the U.S. Department of Commerce is proposing a preliminary combined countervailing and anti-dumping duty rate of 34.45 percent on Canadian softwood lumber. That’s more than double the current rate. NOMA has written an open letter to Premier Doug Ford and Prime Minister Mark Carney asking them to take action. It’s also asking that the governments of Ontario and Canada public acknowledge the urgency of the issue. …NOMA, which represents 37 municipalities in the region says any further erosion of our access to U.S. markets will have immediate and long-lasting impacts on families, First Nations, and municipalities throughout Northwestern Ontario.

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US Makes Affirmative Preliminary Determination in Trade Cases on Hardwood and Decorative Plywood from China, Indonesia, and Vietnam

By Wiley Rein LLP
PR Newswire
July 7, 2025
Category: Business & Politics
Region: United States, International

WASHINGTON — In a victory for US producers of hardwood and decorative plywood (HWDP), the US International Trade Commission (ITC) found that there is a reasonable indication that imports from China, Indonesia, and Vietnam are materially injuring the US HWDP industry. The Commission’s vote comes in response to petitions filed on behalf of the Coalition for Fair Trade in Hardwood Plywood. …The cases allege that unfairly dumped and subsidized imports of Chinese, Indonesian, and Vietnamese HWDP are injuring the domestic industry and threaten the industry with further injury. …The ITC’s affirmative preliminary injury determination paves the way for Commerce to move forward with its investigations. Unless extended, Commerce is expected to issue its preliminary CVD determination in August 2025 and its preliminary AD determination in October 2025. If Commerce also reaches affirmative preliminary determinations in these cases, provisional AD and CVD duties will be collected from importers based on the preliminary margins calculated.

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Trump’s tariff pause is set to expire, threatening a trade war flare-up

By Shannon Pettypiece and Steve Kopack
NBC News
July 2, 2025
Category: Business & Politics
Region: United States

President Donald Trump’s trade war risks reigniting next week when a temporary pause on sweeping tariffs is set to expire… While Trump and administration officials recently indicated the deadline might be pushed back, the president told reporters Tuesday that he wasn’t planning an extension and is informing countries of their new tariff rates. He said it has been harder than planned to make trade deals with a number of foreign governments because they are “spoiled from having ripped us off for 30, 40 years.” “We’re going to determine a number just very simply, write them a nice letter,” Trump said. “Probably one page or a page and a half at the most, and it’s going to be, ‘Congratulations. It’s going to be an honor to allow you to go and do business in the United States of America,’ because it really is an honor to be able to do that.”

Additional coverage in Money Week by Katie Williams: Will “Liberation Day” strike again?

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International Paper Plans to Exit Molded Fiber Business, Close and Sell Other Facilities

By International Paper
PR Newswire
June 26, 2025
Category: Business & Politics
Region: United States

MEMPHIS, Tennessee — International Paper announced a series of strategic changes to strengthen its North American operations. As part of this initiative, the company will: Exit the molded fiber business and convert the Reno, Nev. facility to support its packaging business; Close its packaging facility in Marion, Ohio; Close its recycling facility in Wichita, Kansas; and Sell its containerboard mill in Xalapa, Mexico and its recycling plants in Xalapa and Apodaca, Mexico to Acabados de Papeles Santinados y Absorbentes (APSA). In the U.S., these changes will impact approximately 110 hourly and 24 salaried employees. In Mexico, APSA intends to retain current onsite team members at each location. …These actions are intended to support International Paper’s ongoing transformation initiatives to become a more focused and agile provider of sustainable packaging solutions. 

In Related News: IP Completes Divestiture of Five European Corrugated Box Plants to Satisfy Regulatory Commitments from the Acquisition of DS Smith

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A public lands sell-off is struck from the GOP policy bill

By Maxine Joselow
New York Times in The Denver Post
June 30, 2025
Category: Business & Politics
Region: United States

WASHINGTON — Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, said late Saturday that he had dropped his contentious plan to sell millions of acres of public lands from the sweeping domestic policy package that the Senate will soon begin debating. Lee made the announcement on social media after it became clear that the plan faced insurmountable opposition from within his own party. At least four Republican senators from Western states had said they planned to vote for an amendment to strike the proposal from the bill. The plan had also triggered intense pushback from conservative hunters and outdoorsmen across the American West, who had warned that it threatened the lands where they hunted and fished. …Lee said that, because of the strict rules governing the budgetary process … he was “unable to secure clear, enforceable safeguards to guarantee that these lands would be sold only to American families — not to any foreign interests.”

Additional coverage in the Utah Dispatch: Battles over public lands loom even after sell-off proposal fails

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A busy local lumber mill gives LA’s fallen trees new life

By Erin Rode
SF Gate
July 3, 2025
Category: Business & Politics
Region: US West

©Angel City

Across the Los Angeles River from downtown Los Angeles is an unexpected sight, in the nation’s second-biggest city: a working lumber mill. The dusty, noisy mill is processing logs from the city itself. Angel City Lumber’s “whole purpose is to connect Angelenos to their community trees,” said founder Jeff Perry, by turning fallen local trees into wood products like tabletops, benches and flooring. The city of Los Angeles is home to over 10 million trees … an average of 2,000 trees are removed each year when they die and other reasons. …Angel City Lumber now works with municipal crews during tree removal, arriving in time to scoop up the trunks and bring them back to its mill to be processed into lumber. …Part of Perry’s vision involves rethinking the perception of street trees, chosen for ornamental or shade benefits, as the “perfectly good lumber” that most of those trees could become after their death.

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Oregon Legislature approves $1 Million for World Forestry Center’s Campus Transformation

The World Forestry Center
July 1, 2025
Category: Business & Politics
Region: US West

World Forestry Center is proud to announce that the Oregon Legislature recently approved $1 million for World Forestry Center’s planned campus transformation, one of 13 projects recommended through the Cultural Resources Economic Fund (CREF). The funding supports World Forestry Center’s campus transformation project in Portland’s central Washington Park, including the development of a new Mass Timber Experience Center. This innovative facility will complement the existing Discovery Museum and serve as a dynamic public space featuring an exhibition hall, auditorium, canopy, cafe, and renovated outdoor plaza. The Experience Center is designed to engage all visitors on the critical issues shaping the future of forests and the communities that depend on them.

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Western Forest Products Announces Fire Damages Columbia Vista Division Sawmill

Western Forest Products Inc.
June 30, 2025
Category: Business & Politics
Region: United States, US West

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Western Forest Products announced today that the sawmill at its Columbia Vista Division, located in Vancouver, Washington, sustained extensive damage in a fire, rendering the mill inoperable. “On behalf of Western, I want to extend my sincere gratitude to the firefighters and first responders who attended the fire at our site,” said Steven Hofer, Western’s President and CEO. “While we are shocked by the damage to the mill, we feel incredibly fortunate that no employees or emergency personnel were injured. We are focused on supporting our team members and completing an incident investigation and assessment.” The Columbia Vista Division produced approximately 53 million board feet of lumber in 2024, with production focused on Douglas Fir specialty products for Japan and U.S. markets.

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Oregon Legislature approves tax for wildfires as survivor bill fails

By Zach Urness
Statesman Journal
July 1, 2025
Category: Business & Politics
Region: US West

It was a mixed bag for wildfire funding this session in the Oregon Legislature. Lawmakers came in with lofty ambitions — to create more stable funding to fight and prevent wildfires, to repeal an unpopular wildfire risk map and to get relief for 2020 wildfire survivors still waiting to be paid lawsuit awards. …The biggest wildfire funding bill that passed was House Bill 3940 — which includes a tax on oral nicotine products, taps the state’s rainy day fund and uses a very small increase to the timber tax. The bill should raise about $40 million per year to pay primarily for wildfire mitigation. …Ultimately, the legislature approved more than $200 million from the budget that can be used for wildfire suppression for the 2025-27 biennium. However, it didn’t come up with any new or longer-lasting funding source, Golden said. That means for now, money for suppression will come from Oregon’s general fund.

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Northeast Oregon sawmill Woodgrain Inc. is closing

East Oregonian
July 1, 2025
Category: Business & Politics
Region: United States, US West

PILOT ROCK, Oregon —  Woodgrain Inc. is closing its sawmill in Pilot Rock on or after Sept. 1. The Dislocated Worker Unit of the Oregon Higher Education Coordinating Commission’s Office of Workforce Investments on Tuesday, July 1, issued a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification — or WARN notice — about the pending closure. According to the notice, Woodgrain will layoff all 62 workers at the plant. Tracy Hayes, the director of Human Resources for Woodgrain Lumber and Millwork Division, sent a letter July 1 to Michael Welter, the rapid response coordinator for the Office of Workforce Investments, and to Pilot Rock Mayor Randy Gawith telling them about the coming shutdown. …Affected employees do not have bumping rights, as they are not represented by a union.

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Kruger Products’ Memphis site announces new converting line for bathroom tissue and paper towels

Kruger Inc.
July 9, 2025
Category: Business & Politics
Region: United States, US East

MISSISSAUGA, Ontario — Kruger Products announced today that its subsidiary, K.T.G. (USA) Inc. will be investing approximately $35 million in a new converting line for bathroom tissue and paper towels at its site in Memphis, TN. The installation is expected to be completed in Q2/2026 and will create about 20 jobs. “With the latest technology, this new converting line will allow us to expand our capacity and produce a wide range of high-quality tissue products for our customers and our White Cloud® brand”, said Gordon Goss, SVP & GM, U.S. & Mexico Consumer Business. “This new line is also part of our plan to reinvest and refocus our Memphis site on driving efficiency for our growing U.S. business.” [END]

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Cascades announces the permanent closure of its Niagara Falls corrugated medium manufacturing operations

Cascades Inc.
Cision Newswire
July 8, 2025
Category: Business & Politics
Region: US East

KINGSEY FALLS, QC – Cascades Inc. announces that its corrugated medium manufacturing facility in Niagara Falls, NY will be permanently closed as part of the optimization of the Company’s packaging production platform. Production will end no later than September 3, 2025. This announcement aligns with the Company’s commitment to support strategic growth by focusing on profitability and customer service levels. The Niagara Falls production site has an annual production capacity of 200,000 short tons. A second machine at this facility was closed in 2023. “This is a difficult decision, but one that is an essential part of our focus on optimizing the performance of our Packaging sector,” said Jean-David Tardif, Executive Vice-President, Packaging. “The future growth momentum for Cascades and our customers is very promising, and we are well positioned to capitalize on opportunities for strategic and sustainable growth,” he added. Cascades would like to sincerely thank the 123 employees that are directly impacted by this decision…

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Hardwood Forestry Fund voluntarily dissolves operations; passes ‘torch’ with final distribution of $190,000

By Larry Adams
Woodworking Network
July 8, 2025
Category: Business & Politics
Region: United States, US East

After funding 5 million seedlings for 289 projects, in 38 states and 4 foreign countries, the Hardwood Forestry Fund (HFF) has decided to voluntarily dissolve its operations.  The Board announced its final distribution of $190,000 to the Arbor Day Foundation and One Tree Planted to implement Hardwood Tree plantings in line with the HFF’s mission and goals. The Hardwood Forestry Fund promoted hardwood timber growth, management, education, and environmentally sound uses of renewable forest resources by providing grant funding to partnering organizations. …The HFF was formed in 1990 by members of the Hardwood Plywood and Veneer Association, which eventually became the Decorative Hardwoods Association. …During its 35 years of operation, the HFF funded projects that used seedling planting, direct seeding, and forest management techniques to promote natural regeneration and create sustainable forests on suitable and quality public sites. 

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Chillicothe Paper Mill: Potential Buyers, Shutdowns, Rumors, Reminiscences…

By Kevin Coleman
Sciotopost.com
July 7, 2025
Category: Business & Politics
Region: United States, US East

CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — Possibly 18 potential buyers have looked at the Pixelle facility before Thursday’s deadline to make offers. And again, the weekly Monday meeting of the ‘paper mill response team’ was in executive session to be free to hash out plans – as reminiscences from employees, as well as rumors about what is happening there and what is being removed, fill the internet. Mill operator Pixelle – based in Pennsylvania, and owned by H.I.G. Capital of Miami, Florida – has been cooperative with corporate tours of the facility that has been largely shut down. …“The deadline set by HIG for purchase offers to be submitted – July 3 – has passed. To date, no information has been shared with local leaders or regional economic development partners regarding a sale or the future of the mill.

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Media got it wrong when it comes to Maine’s pulp and paper mills

By Krysta West, ED, Maine Forest Products Council.
Bangor Daily News
July 5, 2025
Category: Business & Politics
Region: United States, US East

Krysta West

Biomass is part of the natural carbon cycle, which is why both the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Maine Department of Environmental Protection — along with the vast majority of environmental agencies in other industrialized nations — consider it carbon neutral when it comes from sustainably managed forests. As new trees grow, they absorb the carbon released when wood is used as fuel, unlike fossil fuels, which add carbon that had been stored underground for millions of years. Some, like the D.C.-based Environmental Integrity Project, disagree. Their recent report criticizes mills for using forestry leftovers and other fuel that they claim “can be dirtier than coal.” …This is not just an attack on our pulp and paper industry, it’s an attack on our heritage, which is why it is troubling that the Bangor Daily News and others published a recent article that originated in the Maine Monitor based on EIP’s faulty report.

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Sumitomo launches its first ‘timber industrial complex’ in the US

By Larry Adams
The Woodworking Network
July 6, 2025
Category: Business & Politics
Region: United States, US East

Sumitomo Forestry, a prominent Japanese timber and construction firm, completed July 1, 2025, the acquisition of Teal Jones Louisiana Holdings and plans to launch its first timber industrial complex in the US. This complex may also include taking wood waste and turning it into mass timber. …In addition to outside purchasers, Teal Jones-Plain Dealing (TJPD) plans to supply product to its group operations, such as the Fully Integrated Turn-key Provider operations and its residential property and real estate development operations. Furthermore, the company plans to utilize the approximate 40 hectares of unused land on the site to manufacture and sell mass timber and wood products in preparation for future increased demand. “We are also considering processing wood chips and lumber residue generated from the manufacturing process into biomass power generation fuel, bio-refineries and other,” the company said.

See Sumitomo Press Release: Launch of our first overseas timber industrial complex with the group integration of a major US lumber company 

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Donald Trump’s tariffs test a legacy Maine industry that global trade decimated

By Lori Valigra
Bangor Daily News
July 2, 2025
Category: Business & Politics
Region: United States, US East

Simon Varney pre-ordered extra hardwood from Canada in February when President Donald Trump threatened broad 25 percent import tariffs on goods from that country. The next month, the administration exempted that wood. That left Varney, co-owner of Wells Wood Turning & Finishing in Buckfield, spending more money ahead of time and holding onto extra inventory, eating into cash flow. Ironically, the pearlescent gold pigment the company purchased from its Vermont supplier to make its famous wooden eggs for the White House Easter Egg Roll — a color specifically requested by the president in both of his terms in office — had to be imported from Germany and falls under Trump’s tariffs. “The tariffs were a real concern because they basically would raise our wood costs by 25 percent, which is pretty significant,” Varney said. “The wood manufacturing business is not a high margin or high profitability business.”

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Domtar receives Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation permit for anaerobic digester

By Allison Winters
The Times News
June 27, 2025
Category: Business & Politics
Region: United States, US East

KINGSPORT, Tennessee — Domtar’s Kingsport mill received a long-awaited permit last week leading to the start of the anaerobic digester project. The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation issued the 142-page permit Wednesday. …“Receiving this permit is an important milestone in our efforts to advance the anaerobic digester project at the Kingsport Mill,” Charlie Floyd, VP of strategic capital projects, said. “This investment underscores Domtar’s commitment to sustainable innovation and environmental stewardship, while supporting good jobs and economic vitality here in Kingsport.” …Start-up of the new wastewater treatment system is expected by the third or fourth quarter of 2026, according to Domtar’s latest timeline. Around 150 contractors are expected to be on site to build the digester and associated equipment, Floyd said. Domtar estimates a $12.8 million economic impact from the project — including labor, hotel and dining within the community.

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Canfor Announces Closure of Darlington and Estill Sawmills in South Carolina

Canfor Corporation
June 26, 2025
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, United States, US East

VANCOUVER, BC – Canfor announced today its decision to permanently close the Estill and Darlington sawmills in South Carolina, effective August 2025. These closures follow an extended period of persistently weak market conditions and sustained financial losses, which have made continued operations at these facilities no longer viable. “We understand the significant impact this difficult decision will have on our employees,” said Lee Goodloe, President, Canfor Southern Pine. “This outcome is in no way a reflection of the dedication and hard work of our teams. We are committed to supporting our employees through this transition, including providing severance payments and exploring opportunities for redeployment within our other operations where possible.” Approximately 290 employees will be affected by the closures, which will also reduce Canfor’s U.S. lumber production capacity by 350 million board feet annually.

Related coverage in ABC15 News Darlington: Lumber losses loom: Darlington sawmill closes, furthers threat to $23B industry

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Indiana’s Hardwoods and Lumber Industry Plays Huge Role in State’s Economy

By C.J. Miller
Hoosier AG Today
June 26, 2025
Category: Business & Politics
Region: United States, US East

When you think about Indiana’s ag industry, you might not think about hardwoods and lumber, which play a huge role in the state’s economy. Indiana’s hardwood industry has an annual economic impact of over $10 billion to the state’s economy. In fact, Indiana is the number one producer of wooden hardwood and office furniture in the US. Indiana’s hardwood sector also ranks: 2nd in wood kitchen cabinets and countertops, manufactured homes, 3rd in engineered wood products, 4th in pre-fabricated wood buildings, and 5th in upholstered household furniture. Much of the lumber that is harvested and used here in Indiana comes from private woodland owners. “There’s over 4.5 million acres of forest land in Indiana, and of that 85 percent of that is privately owned, so there are a lot of farmers and families who own forest land,” says Tyler Smith, Sales Manager of Cole Hardwood in Logansport.

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Domtar to clean up decades of PFAS contamination under Michigan settlement

By Fuad Shalhout
Michigan Live
June 25, 2025
Category: Business & Politics
Region: United States, US East

Dana Nessel

PORT HURON – Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has finalized a settlement agreement with Domtar Industries to clean up PFAS-contaminated materials at the Techni-Comp composting site near Port Huron. The agreement follows a lawsuit filed by the attorney general against the paper manufacturer in December 2022. As part of the settlement, Domtar will remove compost piles containing PFAS-contaminated sludge from the site and dispose of the waste at a licensed landfill. The company will also investigate the presence of PFAS in sediment and surface water at the location. …The mill began using PFAS chemicals to make specialty paper in the 1980s. Domtar acquired E.B. Eddy and the Port Huron mill in 1998. …Nessel’s office said the waste was “fraudulently” declared inert… and that Domtar continued to maintain that representation until the mill closed a few years ago. Under the decree, Domtar will pay $300,000 to support further response efforts at the site. 

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Logs from overturned truck collide with train in northern Ontario

By Chelsea Papineau
CTV NewsBy
June 25, 2025
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, US East

ONTARIO — A northern Ontario forestry company says a train crossing Highway 560 collided Wednesday morning with logs that were spilled by an overturned contractor’s trailer. It happened at the railroad crossing near Interfor’s Gogama Division and resulted in the road being closed between highways 144 and 560A. “There are no injuries or derailment,” Ontario Provincial Police said in a social media post at 8:40 a.m. “A train stop order is in place.” Interfor also confirmed this. …“At Interfor, the safety of our people and the communities where we operate is our highest priority. We are focused on supporting those affected and are actively monitoring the situation.” There is no estimated time of reopening, said OPP Const. Michelle Simard. “The officers are still investigating,” Simard said.

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Shaping the future of forestry through new Timber Fibre Strategy

By Julie Collins, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
The Government of Australia
July 7, 2025
Category: Business & Politics
Region: International

The Albanese Labor Government released a Timber Fibre Strategy which sets out a pathway for the future growth of Australia’s proud forestry industry. The Timber Fibre Strategy sets out 128 ambitious actions for industry and governments to help build a sustainable, world leading sector. …A key opportunity identified in the Strategy is for the forestry sector to play a bigger role in tackling Australia’s housing challenges and delivering on the Government’s ambitious housing agenda. The Albanese Labor Government is investing $300 million in the future of the forestry industry, which includes:

  • Over $100 million for transformative research, development and innovation through Australian Forest and Wood Innovations,
  • Over $100 million to support the medium and long-term sustainability of our wood processing sector through the Accelerate Adoption of Wood Processing Innovation program,
  • Over $73 million to expand Australia’s future wood supply through the Support Plantation Establishment program, and $10 million in the industry’s training needs through the Forestry Workforce Training Program.

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Metsä readies Kemi mils to resume production after maintenance shutdown

By Igor Dugandzic
EUWID Pulp and Paper
July 3, 2025
Category: Business & Politics
Region: International

FINLAND — Metsä Group announces that the Kemi pulp mill and the adjacent Kemi paper mill will resume production on July 4 after several weeks of maintenance and repair-related downtime. Production will be resumed in stages. …The group’s subsidiary Metsä Fibre has used the five weeks of annual maintenance shutdown to replace the pulp mill’s evaporation plant that was damaged in March 2024 explosion and had been only provisionally repaired in order to return to production as quick as possible. Other extensive maintenance work has also been carried out at the site, enabling the Kemi site to resume stable and continuous production and return to full production capacity again. The new Kemi pulp mill has a total production capacity of 1.5 million tpy, of which approximately 1.1 million tpy is market pulp. At the Kemi paper mill, Metsä Board produces coated and uncoated white top kraftliner with a capacity of 465,000 tpy.

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Vida names Måns Johansson as the new Vice Chair

VIDA
July 2, 2025
Category: Business & Politics
Region: International

Måns Johansson

SWEDEN — Vida announced today that following six years as CEO, Måns Johansson, will be taking on a new role within the group as Vice Chair of the Board of Directors of Vida AB, and he will also continuing as President for Canfor Europe. …“I am excited about the future of Vida and, in my new role, I look forward to continuing to have a role with Vida and the forestry industry,” added Måns Johansson. Karl-Johan Löwenadler will assume the role of CEO of Vida AB effective of October 1st.  Karl-Johan started at Vida in 1998 and initially worked as a planner at the sawmill in Bellö. Karl-Johan increasingly focused on sales at the then-newly established company Vida Wood, where he became CEO in 2019.

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